Tuesday, June 09, 2009

And you were hoping for something about a sexually themed massager? We have those,but that is not what this is about. This is about electrical motors for home and industry.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has approved an amendment May 20 that creates a NEMA Premium motor rebate program. During committee work on the House of Representative's climate change legislation, Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mike Ross (D-AR) offered an amendment to incentivize the adoption of NEMA Premium motors.

The amendment, which is nearly identical to an amendment the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee adopted last month, incentivizes the purchase of NEMA Premium motors by creating a federal rebate program. This amendment approves $350 million to provide $25 per horse power rebate for NEMA Premium motors. This provision also provides a $5 per horse power rebate for the proper disposal of the inefficient, non-NEMA Premium motors.

"Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Mike Ross recognize the importance of making our country energy-efficient, while listening to the needs of their constituents," said NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis. "Congresswomen Baldwin represents Wisconsin's Second Congressional District, and Congressman Mike Ross represents Arkansas' Fourth Congressional District. Both districts house America's major motor manufacturers, and these two representatives have identified their district's needs and have taken the necessary steps to address them."

Ah. Yes. Services to their district. AKA bribing the voters. And no doubt the Congress Critters will be looking for generous campaign contributions from all those that they have helped.

And my guess on the net effect of all this? The cost of electric motors will rise to the point that nearly all the subsidy is absorbed by the manufacturing and distribution chain with none of it showing up as lower prices for consumers. Thus adding inefficiency to the economy. Because in most cases if there was an economic reason for higher efficiency motors they would already be used.

I think this is just another case of the public being Jobbed by Greens and politicians. In the case of wind turbines (discussed in the previous link) the subsidies are so high that the wind companies are paying utilities to take the wind energy they produce.

Disclosure of Materiality

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I get paid from Amazon if you order from any of the links provided. I will give you an honest opinion of any products I have ordered if I blog about them.
If you don't trust me read the Amazon reviews. If there is no review you are on your own.
If you pay me enough and promise to cover my lawyers fees I may say something nice about you. Or I may not. Enough is generally more than you can afford. Unless you have a a really really big bank account or more that a few large gold bars under the mattress.
If you do pay I expect to be transported to a country with no extradition treaty with the US.
If I review a book it may be because the author or publisher sent me a review copy. Other wise I will quote a review of some one else. If I say a product looks interesting it is because it interests me. Sometimes I will link to books so you can educate yourself on a subject and so I can make some off the sale.
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That covers most of what I can think of. I'm getting old and sometimes I don't think of everything.
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